Building Better Regions Fund boosts community and business events in Wide Bay

22/9/2017

Building Better Regions Fund boosts community and business events in Wide Bay 

•  Fund supports key community projects in regional and remote communities
• Six projects in Wide Bay will share in more than $200,000 to hold community events and business forums

Wide Bay locals will benefit from more community events, festivals and business forums thanks to the Coalition’s Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) Community Investment Stream, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.
 
“A range of projects worth $200,824 will be hosted by local organisations in Kilkivan, Gympie, Noosa, and the South Burnett under the first round of the Australian Government’s BBRF community investment stream,” Mr O’Brien said.
 
The following events will be held in Wide Bay:

• Kilkivan Great Horse Ride Festival received $13,899 funding to assist with rebranding the event to “Kilkivan Horse Ride Festival” , a five day festival proposed for April 4-8, 2018.
   
• Kick Start Gympie Regional Business and Innovation forum received $20,000 funding for Gympie Chamber of Commerce to host a one-day business summit to aid local businesses in promotion and delivery.
   
• Noosa Capacity Building Framework, Digital Tool, and Pitch Event received $19,500 for the Noosa Chamber of Commerce to produce capacity-building framework and a user-friendly digital tool to aid local businesses; as well as a regional project pitch event to promote leadership in innovation and collaboration.
   
• Floating Land 2017 by Noosa Shire Council received $47,425 for Sculptural Installations at its outdoor exhibition; workshops using recycled and garbage material, a program for children to educate them about waste; and a digital art trail to guide visitors through the exhibition.
   
• Rush Festival, hosted by Gympie Regional Council, received $75,000 for a strategic and marketing plan to grow the festival in 2018.
   
• Building a Better Burnett – Improving Business Prosperity and Practice – received $25,000 to assist Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation host business information sessions. The aim is to provide networking opportunities and information on a variety of business development and innovation topics.

 
Mr O’Brien said the events would ensure the Wide Bay remained a vibrant area to live, work and visit, as well as benefiting local businesses and the local economy to support jobs.
 
“I’m delighted to see these valuable and worthwhile projects win funding from the Coalition Government’s Building Better Regions Fund,” Mr O’Brien said.
 
“The funding is a real boost to the Wide Bay electorate, and the flow-on benefits of these events will be felt through the whole community.”
 
Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said the Building Better Regions Fund Community Investment Stream was investing $6.9 million in community projects throughout regional Australia.
 
“I aim to help build the kinds of regional communities our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to. These projects help to do that.”